Halle (Saale)
city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt
Halle (Saale), or simply Halle (German pronunciation: [ˈhalə] ), is the second largest city of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is the sixth-most populous city in the area of former East Germany after (East) Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, Chemnitz, and Magdeburg, and is Germany's 31st-largest city.
With around 226,000 inhabitants, Halle is less populous than the state capital, Magdeburg. With Leipzig, Saxony's second largest city, Halle forms the polycentric Leipzig-Halle conurbation. Leipzig/Halle International Airport lies between the two cities, in Schkeuditz. The Leipzig-Halle conurbation is at the heart of the larger Central German Metropolitan Region.
Halle has been known by many names during its history. From the 15th to the 17th century it was called Hall in Sachsen. From then until the beginning of the 20th century, the name Halle an der Saale [ˈhalə ʔan deːɐ̯ ˈzaːlə] was used, and it remains a more formal term for the city. From 1965 to 1995, the city was called Halle/Saale.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Halle (Saale)” is city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Halle, Saale and city, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
The strongest evidence will usually combine a dated visual record with documents produced by the authority responsible for the place. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 25, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q2814. VIAF identifies the subject as 140480972. The Library of Congress control number is n79127825. Authority coordinates are 51.483, 11.970. 2 of 4 selected statements include explicit references; 1 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1965 and 1995.
Modern boundaries and familiar names can conceal earlier jurisdictions or structures that do not align with the present site. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
- Historic place names
- Jurisdictional context
- Routes into maps and plans
Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Halle (Saale)”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Halle (Saale) primary sources, Halle (Saale) archive and Halle research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Halle (Saale)”?
- Which earlier names or jurisdictions may reveal additional records?
- Which authority defined the place, boundary or structure at the relevant date?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Halle (Saale)” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.